Shoe-last.



S. P. FROST.

SHOE LAST. APPLICATION FILED JAN-17,1916.

Patented June 27, 1916.

' ire SYLVESTER P. FROST, 01? DALLAS, TEXAS.

SHOE-LAST.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 27, 1916.

Application filed January 17, 1916. Serial No. 72,577.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, SYLVESTER F. FRos'r, a citizen of the United States,residing at Dallas, in the county of Dallas and State of Texas, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Shoe-Lasts; and I dodeclare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of theinvention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which itappertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to improvements in lasts for use in shoes, bootsand the like and has for its principal object to provide a device ofthis character which can be used in either shoe merely by turning thesame over.

An additional object of the invention is to provide a device formed inseveral parts having means for forcing the same outwardly into contactwith the sides of the shoe when the device has been placed therein.

A still further object is to provide a simply constructed last which canbe composed of a wooden form covered with wear plates for clenching thenails.

lVith the above and minor objects in view my invention resides in thenovel features of construction, combination and arrangement of partswhich will be hereinafter more particularly described and claimed andshown in the drawings wherein:

F igure 1 is a side elevation of stand, my improved last being carriedthereby; Fig. 2 is a top plan view of my last, parts being broken awayand in section, the same being shown in open position or before beinginserted in a boot or shoe; Fig. 3 is a similar view of the same showingthe position of the parts after being inserted in a boot or shoe; Fig.4: is a central vertical section taken on the line 1l: of Fig. 3; Fig. 5is a transverse section taken on the line 55 of Fig. 3.

In its preferred embodiment my invention comprises a form 1 constructedin the shape of a foot which is mounted upon a suitable standard 2 as isusual in devices of this character. The standard may be of any preferredconstruction, such as the ordinary metal standard now in use which has abase 3 and a reduced upper end 4 preferably rectangular for insertioninto a socket or opening 5 in the last. As shown in the drawings thisform is preferably flat and constructed of hard wood over which the wearplates 6 are secured by fastening elements 7 The socket in the formwhich receives the reduced end at extends entirely through the woodenportion and also the plates 6 in order that either side of the form maybe disposed uppermost. By this means the last can be used for either theright or the left shoe merely by turning it over. For instance, theform' is placed on the standard 2 in such a manner that it can beinserted in a left shoe, and when the repairs to this shoe are completeand the shoe removed therefrom, the form is taken from the reduced end land turned over, thus disposing it in position to be inserted into aright shoe.

In order to enable the last to more snugly fit the shoe to which it isapplied it is made in several parts as shown, a heel portion 8 and atwo-part toe portion 9, which is com posed of the members a and b. Theheel portion is preferably rounded at one end to fit the heel of theshoe while its opposite end is pointed and provided with a transverselyextending opening 10. The two parts a and b of the toe portion areprovided with shanks 11 which are disposed on the opposite sides of saidpointed end of the heel portion 8 and have apertures 12 formedtherethrough which aline with the aperture 10 when the several parts areassembled. The apertures 10 and 12 receive a bolt 13 whereby the severalparts are held in operative position. The aperture 10 also receives aUshaped spring, the arms of which extend outwardly into sockets 14formed in the two parts of the toe portion 9. This arrangement of thespring disposes one arm thereof on each side of the pointed end of theheel portion so that it can readily engage its seat in its respectivepart of the toe portion. This spring which may be of the leaf variety orotherwise constructed forces the two parts of the toe portion outwardlyinto engagement with the sides of the shoe when the last is disposedtherein. This spring will be strong enough to hold the parts of the toeportion in engagement with the sides of the shoe at all times and allowthe nails driven through the soles of the shoe to be efiectivelyclenched by the wear plates 6 which cover both the parts of the toeportion on both of its sides and both sides of the heel portion. By anexamination of the several figures of the drawing it will be seen thatby tightening or loosening the nut on the bolt 13 the tension of thespring will be regulated.

From the foregoing description it is ob vious that I have invented avery simply constructed and very eflicient shoe last which can be usedin repairing both right and left shoes.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a device of the class described, a form comprising a heel portionrounded at one. end and pointed at the other, said pointed end having anaperture extending transversely therethrough, a U-shaped spring in saidaperture, its arms extending outwardly, and a two-part toe portion, eachpart having a socket therein to receive an arm 01 said spring in such amanner that the parts of said toe portions are forced outwardly intocontact with the sides of the shoe.

2. In a device of the class described, a form comprising a heel portionhaving an aperture extending transversely therethrough, a two-part toeportion, each having an aperture alined with said firstmentionedaperture, a bolt in said apertures to connect said portions, each'partof said toe portion having a socket therein, and a spring extendingthrough said first mentioned aperture and having its ends disposed insaid sockets in such a manner that the parts of said toe portion areforced outwardly into contact with the sides of the shoe.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of twosubscribing wit-- nesses. I

SYLVESTER FROST.

Witnesses: V

REBA AZLING, FRED. L. SCULLEY.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Yatents.

Washington, D. G. i 7

